Dirt and dust remover for mining machines



June 24,1930. T CRQMBIE ETAL 1,766,429

DIRT AND DUST REMOVER FOR MINING MACHINES Filed April 28, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l II g mntoz I i 7770/7706 J ''i'ambfe l ffne e8 Z G Cromb/e 4 fiober June 24, 1930. "r. J. CROMBIE T DIRT AND DUST R EMOVER FOR MINING MACHINES Filed April 28, 192'? 2 Sheets-Shget 2 Thomas J67.

Patented June 24, 1930 QROMBIE, EXECUTRIX 0F SAID ROBERT C. CROMBIE DIRT AND nUs'r REMOVER FORVMINING MACHINES Application filed April 28,

This invention relates to coal mining machines and pertains particularly to a dirt and dust removing mechanism adapted to be used in connection with an undercutting or kerfing mechanism.

The primary object of this invention is to provide dustand dirt removing means for use in connection with coal cutting machines, which will operate in small space to move into and out of'a kerf and deposit the removed material upon a conveying mechanism, quickly and without the requirement of much room in which to operate.

The inventioncontemplates the provision of a forwardly and backwardly moving scoop, used in association with a reciprocable'kerf cutting mechanism, which kerf cutting mechanism after operating in a body of coal, is adapted to movebackwardly to allow the scoop to move forward into the kerf and pick up the dirt and dust loosened by the cutting mechanism. The scope upon moving backwardly engages an upwardly swinging structure which raises the scoop and causes the same to throw its contents upwardly and backwardly upon a conveyor.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description of the same proceeds, and the invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings, but may he changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention, as expressed in the appended claim.

In the drawings Figure 1 shows the mechanism embodying this invention in top plan View, with the scoop or shovel thereof, in retracted position, before being raised to discharge its contents upon an endless conveyor. 1

Figure 2 shows the structure in longitudinal section.

Figure 3 shows the mechanism in side elevation, and showing in broken lines the man- 1927. Serial No. 187,356.

ner in which the scoop moves forwardly and rises upon its backward movement to discharge its contents.

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the mecha nism showing the scoop in raised discharging position. f 7

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like numerals of reference indicate the corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 1 indicates the structure of a portion of a mining machine, the uprights 2 mounted at the forward part of the machine carrying a platform 3thereon, upon which is mounted a picking mechanism, indicated generally by the numeral 4, which is designed to break or pick into the upper part of a coal block upon which the machine is operating.

Mounted at the lower central portion of the machine is an endless kerfing or undercutting mechanism indicated generally by the numeral 5, which mechanism is designed to reciprocate longitudinally of the machine so that after a kerf has been cut into a body of coal, the mechanism may be removed for the insertion of the dirt and dust removing mechanism, hereinafter referred to.

Extending transversely of the machine between the sides or walls 1 is a revoluble shaft 6 upon which a roller 7 is mounted, which roller and shaft is arranged above the undercutting mechanism 5, as is clearly shown in Figures 2 and 8. An endless conveyor 8 passes over the roller 7 and is designed to receive coal dirt formed by the undercutting mech anism and convey the same from the point of operation.

Secured to the sides 1 and projecting forwardly thereof are arms 9 each terminating in its forward end in a bearinglO.

Extending across the front of the mining mechanism, is a shaft ll the ends ofwhich are positioned in the bearings 10 and mounted upon the shaft 11 in spaced relation is a pair of throw members indicated generally by the numeral 12.

'As shown these throw members 12 each comprise a relatively long arm 13, the upper edge of which is arranged at an angle with respect to the lower edge causing the arm to taper at a point at the free forward end. At the rear of each of the arms 13 an upwardly and forwardly projecting tongue is formed, as indicated at 1 1, the tongues 14 being spaced from the arms 13 thus setting up the pockets 15. The forward or pointed ends of the arms 13 rest upon the kerf when the arms are in down position, as is shown in Figure 3.

Forming a part of the mining machine is a reciprocating mechanism, the forward end of which is indicated by the numeral 16. Pivotally attached to the reciprocating member 16 is a pair of elongated link members 17 which pass forwardly beyond the front end of the mining machine on either side of the endless conveyor 8. These link members overlie the shaft 11 between the throw members 12 and normally ride upon the shaft 11.

Each of the links 17 terminates in a head 18, from each of which there extends laterally toward the sides of the mechanism the trunnions 19. A scoop mechanism 20 is arranged between the heads 18 and the side walls 21 of the scoop each has one of the heads 18 secured thereto adjacent the rear of the scoop. An upwardly extending wall 22 is provided at the rear of the scoop as is shown in Figure 2.

A scoop supporting bar 28 extends between and is carried by the arms 13 and upon this bar the scoop normally rests when the position is as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. The members 12 and the bar 23 constitute'a tripping mechanismwhich is pivot-ally connected to the mining machine and receives the scoop during the final phase of the rearward movement of the scoop. fhe tripping mechanism is operated during this phase of the movement of the scoop and by the scoop to raise the scoop into dumping position.

In the operation of this dirt removing mechanism, the scoop 20 when held in the retracted raised position indicated in the broken lines in Figure 3, allows the undercutting or kerfing mechanism 5 to move forwardly to cut the kerf in the wall of coal. When the quantity of coal and dirt becomes so great that the cutting mechanism can no longer properly operate, then the mechanism is retracted to the position shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, and the reciprocating mechanism 16 is moved forwardly lowering the scoop and forcing the same forwardly beyond and out of engagement with the tripping mechanism into the kerf, in the manner shown in dotted lines in Figure 3. As the scoop is moved forwardly beyond and out of engagement with the tripping mechanism, it will freely enter the kerf and be quickly filled. \Vhen the scoop has filled with coal dust, the mechanism 16 reverses its movement and pulls backwardly upon the links 17, thus withdrawing the scoop and in its backward movement the trunnions 19 will ride upwardly upon the top edge of the arms 13 and into the pockets 15. Further backward movement of the links 17 will cause the throw members 12 to swing upwardly upon the shaft 11 at the same time lifting the scoop in an upwardly and rearwardly curving movement, bring the same to position over the end of the endless conveyor 8, upon which the contents of the scoop fall. The scoop is retained in this position while the undercutting mechanism again moves forward to repeat the operation originally described.

Having thus described our invention, we claim is:

In a machine for handling material, a frame, supporting arms rigidly secured to the sides of the frame having bearing heads, a pair of tripping arms rockably mounted in said bearing heads and projecting forwardly and downwardly therefrom and having rearwardly and upwardly inclined faces, said tripping arms having sockets adjacent to the rear ends of said upwardly inclined faces, a cross bar connecting said tripping arms together, a scoop having trunnions slidable on the inclined faces of the tripping arms and movable into and out of the sockets, the scoop being adapted to rest on said cross bar when the trunnions are in the sockets, and means for moving the scoop forwardly and rearwardly on said arms, the rearward movement of the scoop causing the rocking of said tripping arms upon the seating of the trunnions in said sockets.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signaturcs;

THOMAS J. CROMBIE. ROBERT C. CROMBIE.

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